Easy?

[Mom2Sadie]

Hello everyone,

Surprise! Another question from the newbie!

Sadie is doing really well. She's healthy and happy. BUT she is a puppy and she can get really rowdy. Not a problem for me but a big problem for kitty Gus Gus who just had major surgery. He blocked again after surgery #1 and had to have what was basically a sex change operation - NO FUN! He's been home since this weekend and he's doing ok, the problem is that Sadie adores him and she just wants to play with him but of course he's still really uncomfortable and cranky. He wants to play with her too, but she's just too rough with him. I hate to scold her for just being a normal puppy so I've been trying to teach her "Easy" without much success. Any tips on this one? We start obedience classes in a few weeks, I just thought if any people would have a solution, it would be you guys. I hate separating them because none of them like it. They do really like each other, it's just she's getting so big and she's so rough. Any ideas?

[Icerotti]

What if you put her on a leash when they are around each other. Give her a small correction when she starts to play too rough and say easy once she starts to play softly-praise  and give a small treat.

[Mom2Sadie]

Thanks for your ideas ladies. Sadie is always on a lead when we're in the house, mostly because she isn't housebroken and it makes it easier for me to keep an eye on her this way. And we have baby gates too, the cats have the entire upstairs to themselves. The problem has mostly been that the cats do want to play with her, until she starts playing too rough and then they get pissy with her. I've been trying to keep her calm when they are around and praising her when she does a good job (which is really rare). But for the most part she winds up practically choking herself on the lead trying to jump on them. I'm sure we'll get there, it'll just take some time. And I'm sure she won't always be this hyper - right? Please?